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When the ISIS were about to complete their genocide of the Christians of Mosul in the past few days, they put this mark on the walls of the homes of the Christians — to mark them out for plunder and death. This is the letter “Nun” (ن), the 14th letter of the Arabic alphabet (the equivalent of letter N in our Roman alphabet), the first letter of the word Nasara (نصارى : Nazarenes).

Perhaps I shouldn’t be suggesting this as I have only recently converted to Orthodox Christianity. Then again, I have not let my lack of years in the faith (or lack of being a part of the Church) be a barrier to sharing my opinion. But, with the recent events in Iraq, Palestine, and the Ukraine added to other persecutions and evidence of ignorance of our faith; I think “nun” should be adopted as a symbol of the Orthodox Christianity.

“Nun” has been spray-painted on the walls of homes that are to be looted and destroyed by the ISIS terrorist in Mosul and other Iraqi cities and towns. This blatant use of a symbol to target people for genocide is no different than when the Nazis painted the Star of David on Jewish homes and shops in Germany during the 1930’s and 40’s. The Muslim world has always been oppressive to Christians. However, there have always been some instances where the two faiths did co-exist in toleration of each other. Under modern Arab dictators such as Saddam Hussien, Christians could enjoy some levels of freedom and even rise in government office. But, the combination of American foreign policies and the rise of militant Wahhabi Muslims has been detrimental to the survival of Christianity in the lands where our faith has existed for 2,000 years.

“Nun” indicates a home or shop owned by Nasara (نصارى : Nazarenes). Well, was not our Lord from Nazareth? Do we not wish to be known as His followers? Jesus did warn the disciples that if the world hated Him, they would hate them as well. Of the 12 (Mattias, of course, taking the place of Judas Iscariot), all but one was martyred and John the Evangelist died in exile. Orthodox Christians are no strangers to horrible persecutions from the Jews and Romans in the early years, to successive waves of Islamic domination, to the more modern communist. We have such a great cloud of witnesses, martyrs who’s names are well known to everyone from the Ethiopian highlands to the Siberian forest to those who will be killed by the time I finish this article. Tertullian of Carthage taught that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. ISIS has put a new label on the seed of various Christians. May we be worthy to wear it as well.

The blood of martyrs is being spilled in Palestine as well with the new war between Hamas and Zionist Israel. The number of Christians in Palestine has steadily declined since 1948 and does so more rapidly as innocent civilians of the three great monotheistic religions are caught up in the crossfire of terrorism and war. Of course no one supports Hamas launching rockets into Israel and killing civilians. But, aren’t the lives of Palestinian civilians, including Christians who have been in the land since 33 AD, just as valuable and worth protecting? Shouldn’t the people of Gaza and the West Bank have control over their own natural resources and destiny? Both Hamas and the Israelis are war criminals and our Christian brothers and sisters are paying a high price in blood and abandoning the places where our faith was born. At least ISIS is kind enough to use spray paint to indicate who we are.

“Nun” should be a call for unity among eastern Christians. Metropolitan Paul (Antiochian/Greek) and Mar Gregorios Yohanna (Syriac) are still missing in Syria. Miriam Ibrahim (Ethiopian) was just released from Sudan after her horrible ordeal for standing up for her faith. I am sure someone far more knowledgeable and scholarly can define the reasons why we are still separate from each other. I wasn’t there at Chalcedon in 451 AD. But here in 2014, I see more reasons for us to set aside some ancient barriers for a closer relationship, if not full unity. ISIS could care less if someone is Antiochian or Syriac. Zionist don’t care about what makes a Copt different from a Chaldean. They kill us because we are Christians living in the Middle East. We who live in the United States and other places should take the time to get to know one another. On my way to my Antiochian Parish, there are two Greek Churches in Williamsburg and Newport News, and two Coptic congregations and, I think, a recently formed OCA church in Hampton. I confess that I don’t know the Copts and OCAs and I will make a point to correct that.

“Nun” should be a way to let our western Christian brothers and sisters know that we exist. Too often, Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholicism is ignored as people buy the latest books from Joel Osteen or TD Jakes. It is as if most Americans think Christianity completely disappeared from the Middle East after John wrote the Book of Revelation. We have to help correct this mindset that ignores the faith that has a continued line of existence since the days of the apostles and gave the world the Christian canon (the Bible). I don’t think a mere Arabic letter would cause 3,000 people in one city to become Orthodox believers. But, we need to start some conversations and share our faith and point of view with others.

Note the T-shirt

In Mosul and other parts of Iraq, “Nun” is inspiring solidarity between Christians and their Muslim neighbors. May we find ways to bring love and unity between us before we are forced to by bombs and gun barrels.

Oh Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother and sister …

From the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

As with most men, lust is a problem that I struggle with. In today’s society, it is tolerated as long as one keeps his hands to himself. In fact, lust is expected, celebrated, and used for commercial purposes (Hooters, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and the like). The ease in which one can access the most abusive and cruel forms of pornography on the internet makes this sin even more dangerous. Since taking up the journey toward Orthodoxy, I have put aside my worst manifestations of this sin. Yet, I still succumbed to my eyes and imagination more times that I wish to count or share.

This Lent, I have made it a special point to refrain from such wicked imaginations. I tell myself that if an Orthodox married man refrains from touching his wife during the fast, what gives me the right to fantasize being with any woman. My wife suffers from both Bipolar Disorder and Multiple Sclerosis. Thus, lust has been a great burden on me. But, I went into the fast believing that God will deliver me from this chronic problem.

A necessary part of the spiritual healing process is to be made fully aware of one’s sin. By indulging in lust, I separate myself from the greatest icon I have in my home. My wife is my greatest icon for Christ counts Himself with the lowly and afflicted:

‘In as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

The other icons I have in my home, if I ignore or misuse them, that would be bad enough. They are man-made widows into heaven. In fact, I can change windows and move them around as I see fit without any consequences. But, how many times have I ignored, shut out, been angry with, neglected, and belittled my wife desiring someone else? How many times have I failed to pray for, pray with, and show affection for my wife? Again, since being on the Orthodox journey, I have improved. Praying for her, struggling against my passions, and offering the Lenten Prayer has broken me to see how far I have fallen and how far I have to go. What I have done to her, I have done to Jesus. What I do to her, I do to Jesus. No wonder Paul advises us to “Work out your salvation in fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

It is no wonder why the Early Fathers (some date back to Irenaeus for this tradition) prescribed the 40 day Lenten Fast. Once when we are broken by the awareness of our fallen state, it takes time to be moulded into useful vessels of the Gospel. Orthodoxy calls for fasting throughout the year to help remind us that we are still a work in progress. In the Trisagion Prayers, we constantly ask for the mercy of the Holy Trinity. The Jesus Prayer underscores the fact that we are to be the tax collector and not the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14). In the Ancient Faith, confession is a sacrament before God with the priest as a witness in the body of Christ as well as a private act. And that we begin the fast with Forgiveness Vespers where we all ask each other, including the priest and bishops present, to forgive our sins.

I am broken as I have seen and understand that I have not been a good husband nor as good as others think I am. It is not my place to compare myself to other men. I will be judged on my actions, words, and THOUGHTS (Matthew 5:27-30). I acknowledge my broken state. I have faith in the healing process. I have hope that the Lord will restore my wife. I have hope that He will restore me for her according to His will.

First, I want to thank those of you who have suffered through the first installment of this series. No, there are just some things you can’t make up (nor would I want to). Some of you have suggested that I make comments about greedy, self-serving ministers. Perhaps I will take on an example or two of that misbehavior (which shouldn’t be too hard to find). But, I really want to address a means of ministry that fell right on my Facebook page.

Growing up, coaches were for sports. They were demanding, pushy, and sometimes vulgar. Their task was to instruct and inspire athletes to win contest by any legal means. Christian life was handled by … Christians. They were (and still are) people who strive to be patient, humble, compassionate, and loving. Like Jesus, they were (are) there to guide whosoever will follow.

So, you can imagine that I find the idea of a “Christian Life Coach” as odd as anchovy ice cream. Not that a good priest, pastor, deaconess, or … REAL FRIEND doesn’t coach us from time to time in the ways of our Lord and Savior. But, the coaching that is done by these people is part of the whole of who they are and not the definition of what they do. And maybe that is why one of the world’s best coaches, Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho, is just a coach. The man knows the game of football (soccer) like few others. But, he is an awfully arrogant man (“I am a European Champion. I am a Special One). Christians can be highly knowledgeable in any field or discipline the Lord allows us to enter. But we cannot be boastful, impatient, cruel, or have other characteristics many secular coaches have been and are.

In the Orthodox world, believers sought (and still seek) out monastics and read the ancient fathers for guidance. I was brought up in a small Baptist church where we all knew and looked out for each other’s best interest. In any religious tradition, there are wise mothers and fathers, elders, and good friends available to walk this Christian journey with. Has our modern, self-absorbed, me-and-my-Bible society grown so cold and isolated that the office of “Christian Life Coach” is a viable option for believers? Are we to recruit and hire such coaches based on winning percentages and how well they recruit new talent? It is bad enough that we are tempted to put priest, pastors, and musicians on pedestals. What coach doesn’t want to be known for greatness?

I am not going to accuse everyone in this “Christian Life Coach” movement of being corrupt. I know of a couple of well-meaning people who are involved in this. In my opinion, we need more real friends than coaches. We need more people who we can be honest and open with and will lovingly tell us when we are on the right path and where we are messing things up. Besides, coaches look to make money from coaching. Real friends are friends because they love you.

Then again, coaches don’t let players on the court, field, or pitch without the right uniform. So if Minister LaTacha Emanuel had a “Christian Life Coach,” she wouldn’t have exposed herself so awfully in the videos I wrote about last time.

So, I can be an idealist trying to make a better and fair world for everyone by boycotting a said fast food restaurant because it’s president told a religious magazine that he believes marriage should only be between heterosexuals. Or, I can be a defender of the biblical principles and the first amendment by eating at a said fast food restaurant because it’s president told a religious magazine that he believes marriage should only be between heterosexuals. I couldn’t have made up such silliness if I tried.

Firstly, I think the LGB&T community (it’s most radical elements, perhaps I should say) have picked a foolish fight. Nowhere in Chick-Fil-A’s corporate policy nor general operations do they check the sexual preference status of potential customers or employees. If this were the case, than legal argument can be presented. But, the president of a company has every right to express his religious beliefs in a religious magazine. It seems that you are showing the same sort of intolerance you want to defeat. Hypocrisy only defeats your cause.

And to the conservative minded, I can’t help but to wonder where were your “Defend Freedom of Speech” voices when the Dixe Chicks were being boycotted and Rev. Jeremiah Wright was being cursed for his cursing. Somewhere between 60% to 65% of all heterosexual marriages end in divorce. Is this the result of LGB&T bullying, or that we are disobedient to the biblical principles that promote lasting unions between men and women? Somehow, I don’t think eating fast food in the name of freedom will make these statistics any better.

There is a good reason why we should consider taking up the Fast of the Dormition. That for the next 14 days we stop trying to have things our way and submit ourselves to God’s will. That we sacrifice our pleasures and seek his purpose in our lives instead. It will take more than two weeks of veganism to heal the social-political rift in our nation. But, the Dormition is a good time for us to take a breath and think about something more important. Putting aside sensual desire to bear something greater than one’s self. Yielding to the will and Spirit of God even when it moves beyond one’s expectations. Mary did these things.

It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you.

Benediction of the Morning and Evening Prayer, The Orthodox Study Bible

Our nation mourns the awful loss of life in Colorado. Gun control and gun rights advocates have been arguing since the first news report. I fear that instead of us becoming serious about prayer as a result of the tragedy, we will pay more attention to the arguing sides and deepen the divide in the nation.

I do read books, watch You Tube videos, and listen to podcast from the Orthodox Church. Chances are that I may eventually become a convert, though no time soon. But, there are some people and things about the African-American Protestant faith that I am not willing to easily discard. In fact, I believe that we have some important offerings that can enhance the cause of Orthodoxy in America. Every now and then, I will promote the best of what we bring to the table of the ancient faith.

Howard Thurman was a mystic and theologian who led believers to search for the root of bonding with God. While many preachers were content to “Whoop” and holler. Thurman called on his congregants, students, and listeners to think and concentrate on matters of the spirit. It is easy to see emotionalism as a part of our church practice. But, Thurman saw something more meaningful through our experience of slavery and segregation. That we have to reach a point of silence and reflection. From this point, what he calls the “centering moment,” we can then yield ourselves to the spirit higher than our own and be directed by it. True faith has little to do with external expressions of religious acts. But, it has everything to do with our internal pursuit of something more meaningful.

With such spiritual insight, Dr. Thurman was one of the most influential theologians of our faith. It is said that Dr. Martin Luther King often traveled with a well-worn copy of one of his books. The church he founded, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, still exist as do many of his books. For those unfamiliar with this man, I suggest his book “Disciplines of the Spirit” as a good introduction to his thought and theology.

A: That I am a devout seeker of God’s will. This seeking has led me to seriously study Orthodox Christianity. I admire the history, spirituality, and tradition of the ancient faith and have incorporated many of its practices in my daily walk. Orthodoxy has a lot to offer us and I share what I can in line with the Baptist faith. Other than that, I love my congregation dearly and feel embarrassingly blessed to serve them on Sundays and everyday.

Why did you choose to be the pastor of the church?

I don’t think I had a choice. God called me and Trinity’s pastoral search committee asked me not to go anywhere else. I was hijacked (lol)! But, I have always known of the faith and love at Trinity when Rev. James Carter was there. I grew up in Baptist Liberty and often worshiped and worked with members of Trinity in PBA and BGC events. So, I had a good idea of the congregation I would inherit (if it were God’s will). When Rev. Carter retired, there was nothing negative about his legacy and service. Good leadership was already in place. All I had (and still have) to do is serve and serve well to be accepted as the pastor.

What is one of the advantages of being the pastor?

“Ah-Ha” moments that result in changed lives. When a person takes hold of something that I said in a sermon, lesson, or even a cook-out, and grows from it. Sometimes they happen as soon the word is preached. Sometimes they take longer. But, to God’s glory, they happen. In the meantime, I have to find joy in just planting and watering seeds. The ultimate harvest belongs to God, not myself.

What is one of the disadvantages of being the pastor?

That’s an odd question. As Christians on a whole, we are supposed to count all things as a joy. I hate making mistakes. I do struggle with procrastination. It hurts to see the results of such failures. But, with spiritual discipline, these things can be overcome as all things work out toward the glory of God.

Why is the Holy Spirit so important to the body of Christ?

Another odd question. The Holy Spirit is, in the words of the early church fathers, “the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified” (Nicene Creed). No Holy Spirit = no Trinity = no Christianity. The Spirit comes to us from the Father to us and reminds us of the ways of the Son.

If you were the “PBA Preacher for the Month” and all churches gathered in your sanctuary – what would you preach about?

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). I fear that too many people today turn to Jesus to get stuff. True discipleship means giving stuff up and taking up suffering for the sake of something better. He is that something better.

How do you explain “The Trinity” to your congregation?

The baptism of Jesus is probably the best. “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16, 17).

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” How is this being done in your church?

Other than our regular Sunday School program, I give a very brief children’s sermon 3 out of 4 Sundays (I don’t do it youth (2nd) Sunday as I try to make the sermon oriented to them). My children’s sermons are stories I make up based on the main sermon. The kids feel included in the “grown up” service and it is a good prelude to the message.

Can you tell about an experience of God’s presence showing up in your congregation that was very powerful and overwhelming?

It shows up in all of our services in one form or another. One time that truly moved me was a few years back when a friend of one of our members was shot in a hunting accident. A few of the members called me and asked if we could have a special prayer service to ask God to heal him. I don’t remember a lot of shouting and all. But, the flow of compassion and concern for this young man who wasn’t a part of our flock was wonderful. Days later, he was released from the hospital. Our compassionate prayers were answered as we wished. It was a bit foolish of me not to keep such prayer services going.

What is more important in your life than you?

The spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth through love, truth, and spirit.

Write the word that comes to mind when you see these words. (Feel free to answer as many as you like)

Pressure – life in general Personal Sacrifice – self-discipline

Rejection – preserver Loneliness – maintain hope

Popularity – fickle Pride – dangerous

Disqualification – restoration Jealousy – unnecessary

Faithful – discipleship Inspirational – Holy Spirit

Trustworthy – truth Approachable – Jesus Christ

Forgiving – merciful Self-discipline – lifestyle

Decision Maker – wise Qualified – God decides

Successful Leader – by who’s standard? Motivator – self through love

Assuming Responsibility – difficult but necessary Follower – disciple

Are there any final words you would like to share with me?

Thomas gave a great description of what Christian discipleship is about in John 11:16, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” To follow Jesus means being willing to put a lot of things about us at risk. No, it means putting ourselves at risk. Our dreams, goals, ideals, perceptions, preconceived ideas, traditions, and even our lives are to be placed as unimportant in comparison to being in the presence of God. Sometimes this risk leads to an obvious happy ending (as in the resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus). Sometimes the happiness is indirect and leads to a greater glory (as in the case of the stoning of Stephen with Saul consenting in Acts 7:55-60). Nevertheless, the risk must be taken. I pray for the courage to take it.

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Before they ever heard of the Jesus Prayer or could read anything in English, the slaves in America cried out, moaned, and sang the most profound of all Negro Spirituals:

Oh Lord, have mercy

Oh Lord, have mercy

Oh Lord, have mercy

Have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord on me

It was the song of the whipping post, sexual assault, auction block, and tobacco field. They didn’t know why they were going through such a horror. The way the slave masters taught about God was wrong. The slaves had sense enough to know that somewhere there was a God of mercy. If they sought Him with their whole lives in the midst of their anguish, He would answer them. This Negro Spiritual continued through the days of Jim Crow. With growing aspirations in the face of burning crosses and segregating signs, the prayer was still prominent on our lips as it came from the depths of our experience. The youngest child memorized it quicker than the alphabet. Seasoned saints remembered it if they forgot everything else.

Those dreadful days of our fathers and great grandmothers will not rise again, Praise the Lord! And yet as we have moved from slave cabin to share cropper shack to nice house to the White House, we have lost a part of the prayer. No, all of the words are still there. But the depth and meaning of the prayer, I fear, has been lost in the complacency of progress and the antics of our modern worship.

Are these words even mentioned in our churches anymore? And if so, how much weight do we put on them? Are these words spoken in our prayer closets? Wait, do we even go into our prayer closets and expose ourselves to the merciful God as we were once exposed to unmerciful racist? And if this simple song/prayer way good enough for the ancestors who endured the absolute worst conditions, isn’t it good enough for we who live in a far better world?

Listening to a lecture from Sub Deacon Paul Abernathy, he challenged a conference of mostly Afro-American Orthodox believers to live their faith with the same tenacity of the early church fathers such as Saints Anthony, Athanasius, and Moses. For we who are not Orthodox Christians, we can certainly look at the prayer lives of those who were in bondage and second class citizenship and imitate them. Pray from the depths of spirit and sufferings, not simply for the stuff of this world. Pray in deep humility, and not as if we deserve anything. In the words of our Lord, “This man went down to his house justified … he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Let us return to the prayer life of those who were before us.

Tomorrow is the Feast of St.s Peter and Paul. I intend to eat a fair amount of dead animal. I may wake up early to spend some time on a mountain Saturday. Sunday, I will attend divine liturgy at a Greek Orthodox Church. This journey of the Apostles Fast is coming to an end. In all honesty, I am going to miss it. Oh, I will still maintain and seek to expand my prayer life. And I will keep the weekly fast on Wednesdays and Fridays as well as be more conscious of my eating on other days. But, the weeks of fasting have been very interesting and inspiring for me. God revealed and reminded me of his truth.

Prayer means more than giving thanks, praises, and asking for stuff. Prayer is seeking unity with the Lord. For those who are new to following Jesus, praying without a disciplined spiritual life can be expected. But, a shallow perception of communication with God must be outgrown. The seeking of divine guidance must be perpetual in our hearts and minds. Too often, we pray for immediate results. We live in a culture that seeks tangible and well-defined conclusions, and the sooner the better. This is a very dangerous prayer life. Suppose we get the results when and the way we want them? Then arrogance quickly sets in as if we are proven better than others because we have the results. Complacency is another risk; that one need not pray again unless another need or want arises in our lives. Suppose we don’t get the results, or get them in a later time in a way that doesn’t please us? Two possibilities are ready to distort our souls. We may disbelieve in the loving God who answers prayer as we didn’t get our results. We may also chase after spiritual snake oil salesmen posing as ministers of the Gospel who boast that they can get you the results we are looking for.

A consistent and perpetual seeking of God; this is the type of prayer that doesn’t rely on gratifying results. When they come, one with such a prayer life remains humble. When they don’t come, the one remains patient and relies on God’s wisdom. Results and lack of them are mere stones on the pathway to the eternal. This is one reason why hermits and monastics can remain in secluded prayer unbothered by the world around them. This is one reason why the martyrs faced death with a sense of joy and peace in mind. If we were all thrown to the gladiators and wild beast or were made to live in ascetic cells, having this sort of prayer life would be a bit easier as we would have nothing else to seek after and death would be just moments away.

The challenge for us who are not in monasteries and coliseum is to be consistent and perpetual seekers of God. This is why the morning and evening Orthodox prayers guide us in seeking mercy. This is why there are prayers of the Hours and cycles of fasting. This is why monks, nuns, and other seekers desire an inward prayer of the heart and silently move their lips as they offer up the Jesus Prayer. The early church fathers gave us traditions of fasting and prayer that have encouraged the rejection of this world and withstood great persecution. Arrogance, complacency, disbelief, and gullibility await those who have no depth in their spiritual selves. Thus, our prayers must be continuous to withstand and overcome these adversaries.

Thank you for your time. I pray God will also bless you in the journey of life.

Okay, so far in my self-study and practice of Orthodox Christianity, I can see the logic and benefits. Take the prayer life; using the prayers written in the Orthodox Study Bible and other sources has reignited a sense of my need to pursue God with discipline and diligence. I was trying to do that on my own with some measure or another of success. But, following these prayers that have been handed down from the church fathers has been an extra push for me. Trying to observe the Hours (I am not too sharp at midnight, but I am trying) reminds me of my need for the Holy Spirit through out my day. Fasting is the best medicine for the body and it does the budget a world of good too moving from a meat to plant-based diet. I even see the wisdom of iconography. I refuse to rush into converting as there is no Orthodox Church within a 30 mile radius of my home and I have much to do as a Baptist pastor to seek lost souls, strengthen the saints, and serve my community.

I also confess that divine liturgy intimidates me. Seriously, all of that chanting, incense, and prayers is far more than we have in our order of service. And I don’t speak anything other than American English. Even the Jordanville Prayer Book has words in it that I didn’t learn in seminary. Shouldn’t worship be simple and easy enough to understand so that a messenger can read it (Habakkuk 2:2)? Did Jesus have a liturgy?

He probably did. Think about it, the Last Supper took place not on any old day of the year. It was on the Day of Unleavened Bread. Certain scriptures had to be read and prayers prayed by Jews in order to properly celebrate what God did for his people. More than likely, Jesus followed the prescribed order of worship that was handed down to him since the days of Moses. But, then Our Lord did something else. He redefined that meal with his own body and blood. That we are to come together with the bread and wine in remembrance of him. The Apostle Paul handed the tradition down to the Corinthian believers and other church fathers did the same as well. Liturgy can be described as the public spiritual connection to the God of Israel, connected to God the Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, and all who believe in him.

Liturgy is not a spectator sport. Reading books and watching You Tube videos are not enough. I will have to attend before I can make any decisions of if I think this is right for me. I will have a few opportunities to get away from my church and attend the Sunday morning worship in a couple of Orthodox churches between now and mid-September. I will also attend Homecoming Services among my fellow Baptist. May God reveal the truth to me.